NorthFultonHospital has met rigorous criteria to be fully accredited by the Joint Commission.

JCAHOPrimaryStrokeCenter Certification

In addition to the accreditation listed above, the Joint Commission has also developed criteria to be designated a PrimaryStrokeCenter.This additional distinction means that our medical professionals and our facility are prepared to provide care for those experiencing a stroke.Those providing this care undergo additional continuing education to ensure patients receive the level of care they deserve.

American Heart Association’s Get With The GuidelinesSM Achievement Awards

oGold - Heart Failure

oGold - Coronary Artery Disease

oGold - Stroke Care

Get With The GuidelinesSM (GWTG) is an evidence-based program for in-hospital quality improvement. It puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals, helping to ensure that the care they provide to coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure patients is aligned with the latest scientific guidelines.NorthFultonHospital is only the second hospital in Georgia to reach this award level (3 Golds) with the American Heart Association.

UnitedHealth Premium® SpecialtyCenter designation for Surgical Spine

The UnitedHealth Premium surgical spine specialty centers are selected using evidenced-based criteria based from current literature or standards developed by national organizations such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and The Leapfrog Group.Some criteria include:

oA full range of surgical spine care must be delivered including: orthopaedic surgeons and/or neurosurgeons who specialize inspine, and availability of intraoperative monitoring of spinal cord function. Physical therapy and occupational therapy services must be available seven days per week.

oAt least one surgeon who has completed a spine fellowship is required. Dedicated operating rooms and staff, and a consistent patient care unit for provision of postoperative care are required.

The selection criteria for the Blue Distinction Center of excellence for Spine Surgery program was developed with input from expert physicians and medical organizations and include a comprehensive evaluation of structure, process, and outcome measures. Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery demonstrate a commitment to quality care and offer comprehensive inpatient spinal surgical services (including discectomy, fusion, and decompression procedures). To be selected for this prestigious status a facility must demonstrate excellent performance with prevention of post operative infections, use of evidenced based medical guidelines, post-op pain management, physician credentialing and training, and low rates of re-admission following surgery, to name just a few.

CIGNA Healthcare, distinctions for the care of

oHeart attack

oHeart failure

oAdult pneumonia

oStroke

The CIGNA designations are based on the hospital’s effectiveness in treating the selected condition. The designations are based in part of a hospital’s CMS Hospital Compare measures, Leapfrog Patient Safety Measures, mortality, and complication rates.

The PHA Quality and Patient Safety Award recognizes health care organizations for achievement in implementing evidence-based processes and best practices in reducing the risk of adverse outcomes and improving patient safety and quality.

LifeLink of Georgia Silver Award for Organ Donation

In order to increase the rate of donation, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, developed best practice criteria to recognize hospitals for their commitment to organ donation. HRSA has given the organ donation medal of honor for the last five years to facilities who meet the criteria. NorthFultonRegionalHospital obtained the Silver Award for the following:

oOf all patients eligible to donate, 75% or more became donors

oOn average, the hospital supplied 3.75 organs per donor

NorthFultonHospital is 1 of only 11 hospitals in the state of Georgia to receive an award from Life Link and 1 of only 3 hospitals in the state to receive the silver level award.

AACVPR certification assures that a Cardiac Rehabilitation program meets the essential standards of care.Criteria for certification focus on staff education, patient education, equipment, policies and procedures, and more.

The purpose of this program is to help consumers make choices about their healthcare by recognizing hospitals that promote patient safety by providing access to respiratory therapists to deliver their care. The requirements for participating in the program are:

oAll respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credential.

oRespiratory therapists are available 24 hours.

oOther personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing.

Get Boards on Board … by defining and spreading the best-known leveraged processes for hospital Boards of Directors, so that they can become far more effective in accelerating organizational progress toward safe care